Sunday, 22 February 2009

A Firecrest at the South end of Cloudy Pit around 'The Beach' area this afternoon is star bird of the day today.

WeBS count this morning was also fairly productive: a female Marsh Harrier flew west at the north end of Island Pit late morning, quickly followed by a flock of 80+ Black-tailed Godwits heading in the same direcetion. Also this morning a male Stonechat at Diddington Pit and nearby a pair of Grey Partridges.

Eleven 'Blackwits' present at the Pits late afternoon were then joined by the (presumably same) 80 birds seen earlier in the day.

Island Pit: redhead Smew, male & female Red-crested Pochard, female Marsh Harrier, 80+ Black-tailed Godwits & 2 Woodcock's. A flock of Redwing in trees along the east side of the pit included some birds in sub-song.

Sunday, 15 February 2009

Saturday, 14 February 2009

All lakes across the complex almost entirely frozen today with wildfowl tightly packed in to the few small remaining pockets of unfrozen water. The fields on the eastern side of Island Pit are flooded at the moment due to the high river levels and were being used small numbers of Teal, Shoveler and Mallard.

Sunday, 8 February 2009

3-4 Smew still today around the complex, plus 2 Goosander on the river in the morning. 6 Pintail (including 3 drakes) were new in and there were up to 9 Shelduck. 3 Red-crested Pochards remain, as do the 8 Barnacle Geese that are associating with the main Greylag flock. Snipe have become more noticeable recently as a result of the cold weather and at least 52 were seen around the site today, as well as a single Jack Snipe. 3 Dunlin and 2+ Redshanks were the other waders noted this morning. Other highlights include a Barn Owl seen early in the day, Grey Wagtail near the river viewpoint and single Marsh Tits around the Heron trail at post 4 and at the Snake Pit feeders. 25-30 Yellowhammers were feeding near Peter's Field.